The next morning, Kara found herself at headquarters, and the Hero was not at all happy.

She'd had one of the most amazing nights with Cat, and she loved every minute of it. The two of them talking, cuddling, and making love. There was no choice, she had to take advantage of it, even after Astra had informed her of her discovery. Time spent with Cat, meant everything, and always would. She had even held off on telling Cat about Non, until the next morning, not just for her sake, but for Cat's as well. It wasn't just Kara that needed a special night, it was both of them.

The reason she was at headquarters the morning after, was a reason that she hated more than anything. At first, she had doubted her Aunt's accusations about Non trying to kill Carter. Yet, the more that was explained to her, the more sense it made, and it was making her feel sick to her stomach. The last thing she wanted, was for what Astra had figured out, to be true.

"Are you absolutely sure about this," Hank was asking.

"After watching the news, and speaking with both Winn and James last night, yes I'm sure," stated Astra."Believe me, I wish that I wasn't sure."

"It makes more sense than I want it to," said Kara."The first fire I dealt with yesterday, it's where Winn and Carter went for lunch. The second fire, was at Leisure Laser, where they went after lunch. The third fire, was at Carter's favorite comic book store. James had taken him there after work yesterday. Saint Edmund Hall was only the beginning, don't you see?"

"He's trying to get our attention," said Astra."He wanted us to figure this out, because he's trying to send us a message."

"The message being what exactly," asked Hank.

"Basically, he wants a fight, or else he'll hurt Carter," said Kara."He's calling us out by targeting him, he knew it would draw me out."

The director shook his head."I'm not doubting you, the pieces do fit together, but….it just sounds so damn childish."

"It is childish. When Non doesn't get his way, he throws a temper tantrum in one way or another, he's always been that way. He won't go through with what we had planned, not without me on his side. That's why nothing has happened yet, to put it simply, he is bored and being stubborn," Astra explained."He refuses to accept the fact that I am no longer fighting for that cause, and he is doing what he thinks will bring me back."

"Okay, so how do we handle this," asked Hank."I trust you enough to know, that you won't be pulling an about-face."

"Never, my loyalty remains," she said, with finality."As for how we handle this, we wait."

"Wait," asked Kara, looking at her aunt as though she were crazy."Astra, he wants to hurt my so-...Carter. He wants to kill him, and you want to just wait?"

"I would never let that happen," she defended."I think that it would be best to bring Carter here for now. If Non can't find him, and we hold off on going after him, he'll get restless. Which will cause him to come out of hiding. That is when we will go after him."

Kara relaxed."You do mean that, right? We...not just you."

"You, and I. We will go after him, together."

Kara nodded, before giving Hank a hopeful look."I know that you're kind of against Carter coming here but-"

"It's fine." He placed his hand on the Hero's shoulder."This is his life we're talking about, I'd never say no to this."

"Thank you."

"Yes, Thank you," smiled Astra.

He nodded, before stepping back, and going on."With that situation, we will wait. However, we do have another matter to address. Kara, thanks to you giving Shadow's information to your cousin, he's located Lane and Steel's base of operation. We were correct, their prison was based in Metropolis, in the exact location that we had pinpointed. Superman infiltrated it, but that's only part of the news that I have, and it isn't all good news."

"Oh, awesome," Kara breathed, her voice soaked in sarcasm."So, there's good and bad news."

"Unfortunately, yes," said Hank."Most of the alien inmates found there, were dead. Also, both Samuel Lane and Dante Steel managed to get away. Best guess, they anticipated infiltration, after setting Shadow free."

"Which begs the question...why set her free in the first place," said Astra.

"Exactly," nodded Hank.

Kara nodded."Yeah, I had a feeling that they'd abandon that place, though….I wish more than anything that it wasn't true. Is there any more good news? Please say yes, if you do, I'll bring you a lifetime supply of Choco cookies."

The man couldn't help but smile."You better live up to that bribe, because there is more good news. It had a name, it was a place that had Fort Rozz escapees begging for this place. They've named it...The Underground. Some of the inmates that were being held there, are being brought to us."

"Really," asked Kara.

"Yes," he nodded."They're on route as we speak. The Underground has been shut down. Lane and Steel being in the wind, well…that's a whole different situation. Right now, this is what we're dealing with, and Shadow has given us all the information that she's able to give."

"Yes, the Tiny One has been very helpful," said Astra."She calls it The Underground too."

"Are any of the inmates that were found, reformed," asked Kara, hopefully.

"We can only hope," answered the Director."Your cousin only had so much information to offer, but the fact that he found The Underground so quickly, means that we will be able to track down Lane and Steel fairly easily. They're not being as careful as they think they're being, and their reckless behavior will get them caught."

"We're hoping that some of the inmates will be open to giving us more information," said Astra.

An hour later, Kara was back at Catco. She had just explained things to Cat and her son, wishing that she hadn't needed to. Carter was seated on the couch in the research office, in between Cat and Kara. His backpack was sitting near his feet, with an expression on his face that made it clear that he wasn't happy.

"Buddy, why are you so upset, we're just trying to keep you safe."

"I don't want to hide from him. I'm not a coward."

"Carter, he is trying to kill you," said Cat."You are absolutely going to hide from him. There is no way that this is up for discussion."

"Do you know how much of a wimp this makes me look like?"

"Nobody else knows about what is happening, it's not like you hiding from a dangerous alien will be published for the world to see."

"I know that, Mom…..but this just feels wrong," he argued."I've learned to embrace my strength from you…from both of you. So...to hide from him at this point….it doesn't seem right. You both teach me to be strong, and brave. I learn so much from everybody in our family, and it's made me a stronger person. Non is threatening that, yet the two of you expect me to just hide from him. I can't lie about this, the fact that you two, out of everybody, want me to hide...it sucks."

Both women felt horrible, but there was no changing their minds, and they weren't giving him a choice.

"Alright, listen to me," said Kara, softly."I know that you're feeling better about yourself, and you should. Considering what you did for your classmates, your self esteem should be fairly high. The influence that we have on you, makes us proud, but...I wish that you didn't feel the need to sacrifice yourself."

"That's not what I'm doing, and if you know my self esteem is higher, you should understand why I feel like this," he said, not making eye contact with either of them."Especially you, Kara."

"I do understand why you feel like this, but Carter you need to understand the actual gravity of this. Non, started that fire at your school, and all of the other fires yesterday. He's targeting you. This is not a game, and if you honestly think your Mother and I are going stand by and wait for something to happen to you…."

"Carter," sniffled Cat."I love you, honey, we love you….this is your life. This doesn't make you less brave than you were yesterday or the day before that. This isn't cowardice, it's caution. There's a difference."

He was starting to feel awful about his behavior. It wasn't the right time to be stubborn, and he was slowly starting to realize it."Okay, you're right. I'm sorry…I shouldn't be acting like this. I just really hate that my only option to hide."

"It's okay," comforted Kara."This is a huge situation, a scary one, and you weren't expecting it. I'm sorry to just spring it on you like this, Buddy.

"It's alright. I know that both of you are just looking out for me."

Kara hugged him as tight as she could, trying not to lose control of her emotions. Cat was already upset and crying, and at least one of them needed to be the strength in that moment.

After a few minutes, Cat was standing from the couch, pulling Carter up with her."Come on, sweetheart. I need to talk to you about a couple of things before you go."

"Alright," he said, grabbing his backpack from the ground."Kara, are you coming too?"

"She'll be along shortly," said Cat, before her girlfriend could answer. She leaned down, and kissed her softly on the cheek, before whispering into her ear."Take a few minutes, Darling."

Kara nodded, before smiling up at Carter."I'll catch up."

"Okay," he nodded. With that, him and his Mother left. The minute the door was closed, she broke. She took her glasses off, and just let her tears fall. She knew that she needed to let it out, but that didn't stop her from feeling somewhat ashamed. She was crying so hard, that she hadn't even noticed the door opening, and Lucy walking into the room.

"Oh, Kara," she said, rushing over, and sitting next to the Hero. She pulled her close, and guided her to cry on her shoulder. Just as she had done, a few times before. "Okay, okay…it's alright."

"Nothing is alright," she bawled."Carter's life is in danger because of me…..that's not alright."

"He knows you'd never let anything happen to him, we all know that," she comforted."We all know that you will kick Non's ass."

"I know that the problem will be taken care of. This time. The fact that his life is being threatened at all, is so wrong."

Lucy knew exactly where Kara was going with what she was saying, and she hated it. It hadn't been the first time the Hero had brought it up to her."No. No no no, please don't start with this again. Kara…."

She looked up at her friend, tears streaming down her face."I need to protect everybody, especially the people that I love, and I always will. But now….it seems like the only way that I can protect my family…"

"Stop," said Lucy, who was starting to tear up herself. The woman most likely would have cried anyways, but her hormones weren't making it easy for her to hold back."It's too late for you to be thinking like that. Cat...Carter...all of us...we're all a part of your life now, and you're a huge part of ours. You can't just walk away, Kara."

"It would keep everybody safe."

"You don't know that."

"Non knows so much, way more than I ever wanted him to know. This isn't the first time he's gone after me on a personal level, and it won't be the last. Not for him, or any other enemy of mine that knows my actual identity. It's selfish for me to expect my family to just….accept that they're in constant danger, just by being in my life. It's not fair for me to-"

"You're not selfish, not even a little bit," sniffled Lucy, as she rubbed Kara's back."You're a Hero. I know how hard you struggle with normal life, and being a Hero, but you're strong enough to handle it. You know that, and I know that you hear that a lot, but you obviously need to. We will all keep telling you that, no matter what, and do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Simple, because it's the truth. Danger is out there, no matter what, but it's like you say all the time, it's what you stand for. We're all stronger together, and for you to just walk away from us...would be beyond devastating."

"I don't want to walk away. If I did, I wouldn't be doing it to hurt any of you, I'd be doing it to keep you all safer."

"I understand that, but that wouldn't guarantee us safety, that's what I mean when I say that it's too late. Certain enemies of yours, they already know personal aspects of your true identity. So, that means they could and probably would come after one of us, just to draw you out. So, what would be the point of you not being in our lives," she sobbed."We need you, Kara. Not just because you're a hero, but because we love you, and you're the reason why we're the family that we are."

Kara knew that Lucy was right, and she wholeheartedly agreed with her, but it didn't stop the pain. It didn't stop the fact that Non was using Carter as a way to pick a fight. It didn't take her paranoia and worry away. It changed things, but not the things that she desperately wished that she could change.

"It scares me," she sobbed, before placing her hand on her friend's belly."What threat will I bring in the future...what threat will I bring to this little one."

"Kara, this little one hasn't even joined us yet, and you've already have plans for Winn to make a tiny little cape," Lucy laughed, through her tears.

"What's your point?"

"My point is, this baby is clearly protected by Auntie Kara, before birth. The protection this child will get once he or she is born…I can't even imagine."

A while later, the Hero had arrived back at headquarters, Carter in tow. Her and Hank showed him around, and Kara couldn't help but smile at his excitement. It was his first time being there, after all, and it was clear that anything he had been told about the facility, hadn't done his imagination any justice. He was obviously blown away, and loving every minute of his little tour.

Eventually, Carter found himself standing outside of the med lab. Kara, Alex, and Astra standing before him. He was feeling somewhat anxious, as well as nervous. He wasn't sure what to expect once he walked into the room. Regardless of what he had been told, his nerves were all over.

"Alright, Buddy," breathed Kara."I know how much you've wanted to see her, but there's things that you need to know before you go in there."

"I know the things that Mom told me," he nodded."She won't talk. She's tired because she won't eat much food, and there's a chemical in her blood."

"That's right," nodded Alex."However, she will be very happy to see you. The chemical is limiting her abilites, but not her feelings. She'll be ridiculously happy to see you"

"Does she know that I'm here?"

"No, you will be a surprise," smiled Astra."She needs a happy surprise."

A minute later, Carter was walking into the room, with a huge grin on his face. The young girl was in bed, but sitting up, typing away on a laptop. The moment he walked into the room, Shadow's eyes went wide, and she smiled back at him. He hurried over to her, and they threw their arms around one another.

"Oh my God, I've been waiting for this hug for forever," he said."I missed you so much!"

The hug broke, and Shadow put her hands on either side of Carter's face, planting a kiss on his forehead. She then smiled even bigger and pulled him close again.

Kara, Alex and Astra were standing just outside of the the doorway.

"Did you see that," asked Alex, quietly."She smiled...like a real...actual smile."

"Who wouldn't smile at Carter," asked Kara."Let's let them hang out for a little while, they need some buddy time."

"Good idea," nodded Astra."They are both clearly pleased to see each other."

The three of them stepped away, and Alex closed the door behind her."He doesn't seem rattled about this. Did you tell him why he's here, Kara?"

"Yeah, but he didn't get rattled, he got angry."

"Angry," asked Astra.

"Yeah, he feels like a coward," she said, still in shock."You guys wouldn't believe some of the things he was saying. Never in a million years would I have thought he would react the way that he did."

"Alright, wait….let's go hit the break room, because you need to tell us about this," said Alex.

The rest of the afternoon had consisted of Kara telling her sister and aunt about her conversation with Carter. The three of them talking about several different things. The Hero briefly returning to Catco to check on her girlfriend, and friends, before going back to headquarters. She was feeling so guilty about not being at work as much, but she knew that Cat understood, and that Winn didn't mind covering some of her work.

At around eight o'clock that night, she found herself standing around the briefing area with the team.

"So," said Hank, as he paced back and forth."Our retrieval team on route, will be arriving in about fifteen minutes. Arriving with them, are twelve Underground inmates. All are to be considered hostile until contained."

"Was the team able to retrieve any background information on the inmates," asked Alex.

"No, they didn't find anything. We'll have to do our own research, which may prove to be somewhat difficult. We were given knowledge that some of the inmates from The Underground were reformed long before they were taken there. Since we're in the dark about which ones are, we need to be extremely careful."

"Yes we will," nodded Astra."Some, if not most of them, will lie. Since they're being transferred, they will do what they can to escape imprisonment."

"Are the twelve inmates the only ones left alive," asked Kara.

Before she had a chance to answer, an alert sounded from the computer monitors

"Sir," said Vasquez, who was sitting in front of a computer monitor."One of our drones just picked up Kryptonian activity at the power plant. Heat signatures are displaying one body, my best guess is that it's him."

Hank walked over and studied the monitor."That's Non, it has to be."

Astra looked to her niece, an expression with more determination that Kara had ever seen on her face."We're going. This ends tonight."

Kara nodded, with just as much determination, if not more."This ends tonight."